World's Richest Man: I Leaped Across Time

Chapter 165 Horizon

As the dinner unfolded, Tepper's strategy became apparent. He was a man who thrived on charm and careful observations, his sharp mind clearly dissecting every detail of our group. The way he leaned forward, directing most of his attention to me while occasionally letting his gaze flicker to Derec and Britney, was deliberate.

The first course was served—a delicate appetizer of smoked salmon tartare, paired with an impeccable white wine.

Tepper raised his glass. "To opportunities," he said, his smile widening. "And to the brilliant minds sitting at this table."

We clinked glasses, and the conversation began in earnest.

"So, Derec," Tepper started, cutting into his tartare, "I've been hearing about the ruble play Immortal Investments made recently. Quite a bold move. Most funds wouldn't have dared to touch it, let alone go all-in. Impressive work."

Derec smiled, setting down his fork. "Thanks, Daniel. It was definitely a calculated risk, but one that paid off handsomely. Although," he added, tilting his head toward me, "credit where it's due—Jack was the one who proposed the idea and spearheaded the strategy."

Tepper's gaze shifted to me. "Is that so? I think it's brilliant, truly. Most hedge funds were too scared to touch that market with a ten-foot pole. What made you so confident?"

I took a sip of my wine before answering. "It wasn't about confidence—it was about understanding. Markets are driven by fear and greed, but when you strip those away, you're left with fundamentals. Russia's position as a key energy supplier wasn't going to change overnight. The sanctions were noise; the demand was the signal."

Tepper nodded, visibly impressed. "Well said. And you've proven it works. Immortal Investments must be seeing phenomenal growth."

"We're doing well," I replied, keeping my tone measured. "But I think we both know this industry isn't just about what you've done—it's about what you do next."

Tepper chuckled. "Spoken like a true strategist. And what's next for you? What markets are catching your eye now?"

I leaned back in my chair, letting the pause linger just long enough to create intrigue. "We plan to diversify," I said. "East Asia, Europe. Possibly we will diverge to emerging markets as well, Southeast Asia, Africa. The growth potential there is immense. Infrastructure and telecommunications—those are the sectors to watch. The digital age is only just beginning, and the regions catching up fastest will see the largest returns."

Tepper's expression turned thoughtful, and for a moment, he seemed to weigh my words carefully. "Infrastructure and telecommunications," he said, nodding slowly. "Interesting. Appaloosa has been looking at mobile networks in Latin America. Brazil, specifically. The demand for connectivity is skyrocketing. Maybe there's room for collaboration."

"That's why we're here, isn't it?" I said, offering a slight smile.

The conversation shifted naturally, with Derec and Tepper's associates discussing recent market trends.

Britney remained quiet, observing, but I noticed the subtle shifts in her expression—small tells that indicated she was analyzing everything.

When the main course arrived—a perfectly seared filet mignon with a red wine reduction—Tepper turned his attention to her.

"So, Britney," he said, his tone curious, "Jack speaks highly of your work. What's your take on the market right now?"

She blinked, caught slightly off guard, but recovered quickly. "The market is volatile, but volatility creates opportunities. One area that's being overlooked right now is consumer finance in emerging markets. Microloans, remittance services, and credit infrastructure are underdeveloped but desperately needed."

A flicker of interest crossed Tepper's face. "Consumer finance? What makes you think it's ripe for investment?"

"Population growth, urbanization, and a lack of existing services," Britney explained. "For example, in many parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, people don't have access to traditional banking. Mobile payment systems are starting to fill that gap, but there's room for disruptive players—those who can create platforms for microloans, low-cost transfers, and accessible credit. The demand is there, but the supply isn't."

Tepper leaned back, clearly impressed. "That's… an intriguing angle. And do you see this as a long-term hold or something more tactical?"

"Long-term," Britney replied without hesitation. "The infrastructure will take time to build, but once it's established, these companies could see years of exponential growth."

There was a brief silence before Tepper chuckled. "Jack, you've got quite the analyst here. What a clear vision..."

"She's definitely amazing, and it hasn't been a year since she started," I said, meeting Britney's gaze. She got a bit embarrased.

...

As the evening wore on, the conversation turned to more concrete matters.

Tepper leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and gave me a curious look. "Let's talk about Asia. Appaloosa doesn't have the easiest access to those markets, and we've heard that Immortal Investments has a branch in Hong Kong. You're already positioned there—what's your view on the opportunities?"

I set down my glass, considering my response. "Asia is poised to dominate certain sectors, particularly in digital services," I said. "Markets like China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia are innovating rapidly. Areas like e-commerce, mobile payments, platform ecosystems, gaming. These markets are innovating faster than anything we're seeing in the West."

Tepper nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Digital services, huh? Makes sense. We've been looking at Asia too, but regulatory headaches keep slowing us down. Sounds like you've got a solid foothold. What do you say to a partnership? We pool resources, split the profits."

I tilted my head, studying him for a moment. Teaming up could open serious doors. Still, partnerships like this came with risks.

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"Partnerships like this require trust," I said carefully. "Let's start small—a joint venture on a specific project. If it goes well, we can talk about expanding the scope."

"Fair enough," Tepper said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Since you've shared your angle on Asia, let me tell you what we're looking at. Industrials—especially shipping and logistics. The growth in manufacturing and exports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India is driving massive demand for shipping infrastructure. Companies like Cosco in China and regional logistics firms are seeing tremendous upside."

I nodded, tapping a finger on the table. "That tracks. Logistics is the backbone for digital services. If goods don't move, those e-commerce platforms can't thrive."

"Exactly," Tepper said, his tone energized. "We'll have our team draw up some proposals. I think there's a lot of potential for us to work together."

"I'll look forward to it," I replied, meeting his gaze.

...

The dinner concluded with handshakes and promises to follow up. As we left the restaurant and climbed into the limousine, Derec turned to me, "That went better than I expected," he said.

"Tepper's smart, but he seems to be a bit too optimistic about this collaboration. We need to be carefull. For now we're going to move 1 billion dollars of our finances into Asia."

"Got it. And how do you want to handle the execution?"

"I'll need to call Raegan Lee, let him know about the move. He'll have to recalibrate everything over at Immortal Investments Hongkong."

"Understood. I'll let him know to free up some time to speak with you."

This was the first step to gaining global influence.

Once we were back in Boston, and I was waiting for a plain back to Gainesville, I called Sam.

Johnson Trading Orlando has now sold the rest of BlueBerry and accumulated $1.8 billion in Apple shares on 3x leverage. Leaving over $400 million without leverage in Netflix and Amazon.